Invalid bed or cot.



G. McELVEEN.

INVALID BED 0R GOT.

APPLIGATION FILED rm. 4, 1909.

Patented Jan.4,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H ZM INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

G. MOELVEEN.

INVALID BED 0B GOT.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 4, 1009.

945,282. I Patented Jan.4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GEORGE McELVEEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

INVALID BED 0R COT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

Application filed February 4, 1909. Serial No. 476,112.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE MoELvnnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid Beds or Cots, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to invalid beds, or cots, and is especially adapted for use in the treatment of tuberculosis or other wasting diseases.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an invalid bed or cot which will be adapted for either outdoor or indoor use, and is so constructed as to afford a comfortable support for a patient, either when suspended from the ceiling or a suitable frame or when rigidly supported, and which .may be folded, when desired, in a novel manner whereby all of its parts will lie within the smallest possible space, to facilitate transportation.

Another object is to provide, in a device of this character, an improved means for su porting a bed pan or vessel, whereby t e same is capable of location near either side of the bed as may be found desirable, and when so located will be rigidly supported in position, such supporting means permitting easy removal of the pan and being also capable of folding within the side bars of the bed or cot frame when not in use, to facilitate transportation.

With these and other important objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the cot and its canopy frame, the canopy appearing in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 shows the same parts in plan, the cover being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 represents the mattress in plan. Fig. 5 shows, in side elevation, the cot, canopy frame and a supporting frame for the cot which may also serve as a tent frame.

The main frame of the bed or cot is composed of the side bars f, f and end bars w, w, to which may be pivotally connected the legs or supports it, 71., having braces 2', which latter are bent centrally and there connected by clips 76, k, to the end bars. The pivotal connection between the legs and end bars permits swinging movements of the former to enable them to fold and lie snugly between the side bars for shipment or storage, and when swung outwardly to form supports for the cot, in which latter position the legs restagainst pins or stops g, 9.

At a convenient )oint along the length of the side bars f, an preferably a slight distance beyond the center thereof, are two bars Z, Z, the same being provided with angular terminal trunnions t, t, pivotally fitting apertures in the side bars, from which points they extend vertically downward and thence horizontally across the frame to constitute supports for the bed pan. The bed pan m is, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, provided with two curved side flanges m, m, to fit upon the corresponding horizontal members of the supports m, m, and a curved end flange or to fit upon either side bar of the cot frame. By this construction and arrangement of parts, the pan may be sustained adjacent to either side of the cot as may be most convenient. If, for instance, the cot is in a hospital and it is found necessary to locate it close to a wall, or piece of furniture, in order to locate the pan for most convenient access by the nurse or attendant, the flange m should be on that side of the frame which is farthest from the wall. To change the location of the pan, the latter is sli htly raised and the supports swung outwardly in opposite directions, when the pan may be removed and, if necessary, reversed in position and relocated on the supports, which are restored to their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 1. The removal and replacement of the pan for any purposes are rendered easy by reason of the construction of the supports, and said supports being pivotally connected to the frame, as shown, are foldable so as to lie within the side bars in the same manner as the legs h, h. This results in a construction of camp bed or cot in which all arts of the bed frame are capable of being olded flat, thus facilitating shipment in quantities with a view to a great economy of space.

The mattress 0, .Fig. 4, comprises a sheet of fabric, such as duck or canvas, of a size to fit upon the frame of the cot, and provided along its longitudinal edges with rods or bars 3, s, fitting within hems in the edges of the fabric, and having straps n, a, secured thereto for attaching the mattress to the cot side bars. The mattress is also provided with an opening o, to be covered by a flap 1", as shown.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, the canopy frame comprises the side bar sections 1), b,

to which are detachably connected the bows a, a, and the extension side bar sections 0, c, telescopically connected with the bars 5, Z), and having the bow tervals along the sections 7), b, I provide clips cZ, cl, which, as shown in Fig. 3, are curved to lit the bars f, f, over and around which they extend for more than half their circumference. These clips are preferably made of spring material, such as steel, and under normal conditions they act to hold the canopy frame to the cot frame, but will disengage therefrom when a slight amount of force is applied to separate these parts. When the canopy p, is in position and it is desired to raise the same so as to inspect or treat a patient without unnecessarily exposing him, one side of the canopy frame is disengaged and raised from the cot frame, and the clips (Z on the opposite side will swing around the bars f, the construction of the clips being such that they will act as hinges, and maintain the parts against disengagement.

The canopy 1; extends over the bows a, a, a, as shown in Fig. 1, and is preferably divided as shown at 79, Fig. 1, so that access may be had with the upper portion of the cot, and the patient therein. I may, and

preferably do, furthermore provide an additional cover 79 within the canopy p, which will be divided centrally also, and through which the patient may pass his head, for breathing, eating, or treatment, and without exposing any other portion of his body. These features are desirable when the cot is used out of doors, and especially in cases of tuberculosis or similar diseases which require the fresh air method of treatment.

Some patients require and are much assisted in convalescence if subjected to gentle swinging motions, and with this end in view I may provide my improved cot with eyes, or similar attaching devices 6, c, to which, by snaps D, D, or the like, ropes E, E, are connected to suspend the cot from the ridge pole A, to which said ropes are connected through other snaps D, D, and eyes C, G. The ridge pole may be supported by uprights B, B, and further sustained by guy ropes F, F, or other suitable means. This construction of frame also provides a means whereby an additional covering and protection for the patient may be afforded, as, if desired, a tent may be supported from the ridge pole and be so arranged as to inclose the cot.

The cot being supported above the floor a. At suitable in or ground by the ropes E, E, will swing in the manner of a hammock, as is obvious.

Referring to the canopy frame, it is to be observed that the side bar sections 5, b, thereof are, under ordinary conditions, fixedly secured to the cot frame by the clips (Z, (Z, while the sections 0, a, are free from attachment to the cot frame and slide telescopically in the sections Z), Z). With this construction, the head section of the canopy frame is susceptible of adjustment in order to provide the proper inclosure for patients of different heights, without disturbing the connection between the main sections of the canopy frame and the cot, and in a very simple and effective manner. It is also to be observed that as all of the sections of the canopy frame are readily detachable, and the cot frame is foldable into a flat condition, these parts may all be packed in the smallest possible space.

The cot and canopy frames, the ridge pole, and its supports, are all preferably constructed of steel tubing which reduces their weightto a minimum, and the tubing may be enameled to avoid rusting of these parts as well as to render their appearance more attractive.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination with a frame having side bars, of a pair of swinging members having trunnions bearing in said side bars and horizontal depending portions, said members being free to swin in opposite directions and thereby permit the introduction or removal of a vessel which is to be sustained by the members, and a vessel having side flanges to rest upon the horizontal portions of said members.

2. The combination with a cot frame having side bars, of spaced supports comprising trunnions journaled therein, vertical portions and horizontal portions located below said trunnions, and a vessel provided with opposite side flanges to engage said supports and an end flange to engage one of said side bars.

3. The combination with a cot frame ineluding side bars, of .spaced transverse sup porting members depending from said frame and a vessel having side flanges to rest upon said members, and an end flange to rest upon either of said side bars whereby said vessel may be supported adjacent either side of 

